Pie plate



y 1939- s. H. PELLAR 2,158,911

PIE PLATE Filed May 5, 1957 Inc/29%;:

Patented May 16, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1 Claim.

My invention relates to pie plates, or what are commonly called pie tins, and more particularly to that type of plate which is employed in sets for .the preparation of pies on a production basis, and

| my main object is to provide means to join the plates into units of three or other suitable numher.

A further object of the invention is to so connect the pie plates that they may become rigidly joined.

A still further object of the invention is to so constitute the connecting means for the pie plates as to permit the units to be stacked and compactly nested.

An additional object of the invention is to reinforce the novel connecting means whereby to resist bending or deforming strains.

A significant object of the invention is to incorporate a modification of the connecting means 20 to serve as handles for the unit.

An important object of the invention is to construct and apply the novel connecting means simply and efficiently.

With the above objects in view, and any others which may suggest themselves from the description to follow, a better understanding of the invention may be had by reference to the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. l is a top plan view of a set of pie plates 30 joined by the novel connecting means;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section;

Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view; and

Fig. 4 is a cross-section taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

When pies of the individual type are prepared in large or increasing quantities for the ovens, the question of storing, handling and disposing of the pie plates or tins in which the pies are baked is an all-important one. Originally, the 40 individual pie plates may come in closely nested stacks, but when they are to be handled in sets for the preparation of the pies on a production basis, such as by machine, the work is facilitated if the plates are joined three or more in a row, so as to be handled in a unit. This has been done by binding the plates with a marginal strap or similar device, but the objection to this method is that the stacking of the plate units becomes more difficult and less compact. Also, the tendency is to stack the units imperfectly, causing the edges and other portions of many plates to become nicked, dented or warped. Thus, the strapping or boxing-in method is far from eflicient,

and I have therefore departed from the same by providing a connecting means-for the pie plates which is neat, strong and adaptable for properly nesting the units when they are stacked.

In accordance with the foregoing, specific reference to the drawing indicates a set of the pie 5 plates-three in a rowat I0. These are usually formed with outward rims Illa; and for use in a pie making machine the rims are further extended with opening flanges lllb, these serving to define the marginal limits of the pie.

For the purpose of the present invention, the row of pie plates is extended in contacting sequence, although the plates may be slightly spaced if desired. The novel connecting means comprises a plate H of heavier gauge than the stock of the pie plates. The plate is of a width to fit underneath the adjacent flanges Illa of a pair of the pie plates; and it is extended with defiected wings Ila in the direction of each pie plate. The wings Ila are conically-curved to fit about the contiguous portions of the pie plate walls I00, rivets I2 or spot-welding then being employed to rigidly connect the wings to such walls. While the wings may be shorter than the latter, it is preferred that they extend to the bottom thereof for reinforcing purposes. Since the plate I l is materially shorter than its wings, it may have a tendency to bend or weaken along the line of plate juncture, and I therefore press the plate with two or more transverse corrugations l lb to intersect the line of juncture at right angles and rigidly reinforce the plate.

When the pie plates have been joined as described, a pair of plates I 3 similar in form tothe wings I la are afiixed to the outer ends of the unit, these plates being extended endwise of the latter with horizontal wings 13a. Thus, the unit is not only rigidly connected intermediately, but has the wings |3a extended as handles, by means of which the unit may be agitated or turned over after the pies have been baked to remove them from the plates.

It will be evident from the above description that I have provided a connecting means for the pie plates which is exceedingly simple, inconspicuous, and rigid. The pie plates are joined into an integral unit, and the connecting means as well as the terminal handling means follow the formation of the pie plates, so that the unit 50 may be correctly nested when no longer needed into stacks which build up evenly and compactly and maintain their stability. The fact that no part of the connecting means projects more than slightly from the pie plates also indicates that no 5 within the scope and spirit of the appended claim.

I claim:

A connector for pie plates grouped laterally comprising a joining plate beneath the rims of the pie plates in the meeting zone, wings extended from the joining plate to facing sides of the pie plates, and means to secure said wings to such facing sides, said sides being inclined and with a conical curvature, and said wings being deflected and inwardly concaved to conform with the inclination and curvature of said sides and at least one corrugation formed in said joining plate, said corrugation extending in a direction transverse of the meeting line of the pie plates, whereby to render the joining plate rigid in respect to strains imposed on the pie plates.

SIDNEY H. PELLAR. 

